WB plans rail based mass transit system

Kolkata, Aug 12: The West Bengal government is planning to introduce rail based mass transit system to Sector V, housing IT companies, estimating that the peak hour trips to the area would exceed 10,000 persons by 2011.
With this idea, the transport department has decided to provide East-West Metro from Ramrajatola at Howrah to Salt Lake city Sector V and Light Railway Transit System (LRTS) from Joka to Shyambazar with a link to Salt Lake city Sector V, Mr Sadhu said.

The East West Metro Line of 18.65 km with 18 stations (8 underground stations) would cost Rs 4195 crore according to the price level in 2004. Consultants DMRC has prepared a study about the project.

The LRTS from Joka to Shyambazar with a link to Sector V Salt Lake city is planned to be of 24 kms and the project cost is estimated to be in the region of Rs 3500 crore.

All the stations of the project would be constructed at the elevated level at an interval of 1 km approximately.

Meanwhile, the KMDA has already prepared a comprehensive development plan for sector V.

One component is the provisioning for an organised Bus terminus and allied facilities like auto, taxi, chartered bus stand with food court at two sites at Sector V.

UNI